The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has announced a 12-month finding on a petition to list the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) in the Baltic Sea as an endangered or threatened distinct population segment (DPS) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended. NMFS conducted a DPS analysis based on a joint U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NMFS DPS Policy. Based on the best available scientific and commercial information, NMFS finds that the harbor porpoise population in the Baltic Sea is not a DPS because it does not meet the criterion for significance outlined by DPS Policy. Thus, NMFS finds this population is not warranted for listing.

For more information visit www.federalregister.gov/articles/2015/03/24/2015-06749/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-notice-of-12-month-finding-on-a-petition-to-list-the.